Pumpherston vs Newburgh Juniors
2 - 1
19 November 2022 · King Cup
Away cup match played on 19 November 2022.
Kicked off at 2:30 PM
2-1
vs Pumpherston
Away cup match
The Burgh took a (swift) break from League action with a trip to Third Division Pumpherston in the King Cup on a bright day in West Lothian with a pitch in pretty reasonable condition considering the heavy rainfall for 48 hours prior to the game. Many were surprised that the game would be on, but upon arrival many wouldn’t have noticed any issues with the pitch.
The visitors took the lead in the 13th minute when a corner on the right was met by Andrew Cameron on the edge of the area who knocked it back to Andrew Reade who took it on the chest and excellently volleying into top left-hand corner of the net from 25 yards out. It was a beautiful and composed strike.
This goal gave Reade a bit of confidence and he forced the Pumpherston keeper into save to his left moments later. At the other end, the hosts had a good chance with a double effort that was blocked by the back of a defender with the rebound falling to the same player and his powerful shot was saved by Mark Robertson at the near post.
Pumpherston equalised on 24 minutes after Connall White was out-muscled by Gowans and his shot was only parried by Robertson and McKeon netted the loose ball from close range.
Reade had another couple of efforts at goal in the early periods of the second half, while Cameron had a header cleared off the line from a corner. Michael Perrie was unlucky not to be able to get enough onto a low cross from the right with the keeper getting a vital touch and the ball was cleared.
Another glorious chance went begging in the 77th minute after great work by Cai Macdonald who twisted and turned before laying off to Perrie who put over from close range with the goal at his mercy. A few minutes later and it was Rory Marshall’s turn to spurn a great chance to give Newburgh the lead, more great work from Macdonald saw him pick up on a loose back pass to round the keeper. His shot was blocked on the line but fell to Marshall who took his time to find his place but couldn’t get his shot on target with defenders retreating.
The missed chances, inevitably, came back to bite Burgh on the backside as Barclay netted a cross from the left from close range in the 83rd minute to give Pumpherston the lead. Matters took a turn for the worse when Cameron picked up a second yellow card moments later.
It was a sickening result as Burgh should have and could have put the game out of sight with the chances they created. On the positive side, it was good to see these chances being created and on another day, it could have been a different story, but the team need to be more clinical in front of goal.
Thank you to Pumpherston for their very warm welcome and hospitality, best wishes to them in the next round and for the rest of the season.